M.2 blank guard?

[espr3ss0]

Is there such a thing as an M.2 slot guard? I have the z790 Carbon WiFi and have taken the guard off which is now exposing 3 M.2 slots, however am only using 2. The reason I can't put it back on is one of them has a special Heatsink.

[Needfuldoer]

Empty M.2 slots don't need to be covered. They're fine by themselves.

[espr3ss0]

8 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

Empty M.2 slots don't need to be covered. They're fine by themselves.

It just doesn't look right.

[Hinjima]

8 minutes ago, espr3ss0 said:

It just doesn't look right.

There are some M.2 3D printed dummy things you can buy or print yourself.

There are also these RGB Dummy M.2 thingies.

https://v-color.net/products/rgb-m-2-filler-dummy

[espr3ss0]

14 minutes ago, Hinjima said:

There are some M.2 3D printed dummy things you can buy or print yourself.

There are also these RGB Dummy M.2 thingies.

https://v-color.net/products/rgb-m-2-filler-dummy

Does everyone have 3D Printers these days?

[Millios]

10 minutes ago, espr3ss0 said:

Does everyone have 3D Printers these days?

Everyone? No

A lot of people? Yes because they have become fairly affordable and they either a) like to use it or b) think selling crappy prints is profitable

Take a look at etsy and you'll find like 35 3d print slop stores selling generic 3d printed toys within the first 15 mins

[starsmine]

20 minutes ago, espr3ss0 said:

Does everyone have 3D Printers these days?

your library and or local school most likely has one.

[leclod]

So you've got 4 M.2 drives ? (I'm asking because you've got 5 slots)

(you could probably remove the heatsink from the drive)

Edited October 25, 2025 by leclod

[espr3ss0]

23 minutes ago, leclod said:

So you've got 4 M.2 drives ? (I'm asking because you've got 5 slots)

(you could probably remove the heatsink from the drive)

Yeh, I'm not using the second, but it's got it's own sheild.

[leclod]

4 minutes ago, espr3ss0 said:

Yeh, I'm not using the second, but it's got it's own sheild.

I don't understand what you write

[Millios]

15 minutes ago, leclod said:

I don't understand what you write

They are not using the 2nd M.2 slot and in their specific motherboard the 2nd slot has its own heatsink as well 

[leclod]

5 minutes ago, Millios said:

They are not using the 2nd M.2 slot and in their specific motherboard the 2nd slot has its own heatsink as well 

You mean the 2nd group of M.2 slots (each has it's own heatsink) ? because he has 5 slots

[Millios]

2 minutes ago, leclod said:

You mean the 2nd group of M.2 slots (each has it's own heatsink) ? because he has 5 slots

The primary slot below the CPU and the secondary directly above it (assuming the 2nd one is the top one cause it is gen 4 rather than 5)

Truthfully I cant find a slot that doesnt have a heatsink to begin with (or a 5th slot as well) on the mobo (Googling btw this is the only mobo I can find that has this name as well)

 

If I understand OP correctly they removed the BIG heatsink (the one that covers 3 M.2 slots) and they can't put it back on cause they have an M.2 with a built in heatsink on 1 of its covered slots and now do not like the look of the mobo without the cover of said slots

[leclod]

10 minutes ago, Millios said:

If I understand OP correctly they removed the BIG heatsink (the one that covers 3 M.2 slots) and they can't put it back on cause they have an M.2 with a built in heatsink on 1 of its covered slots and now do not like the look of the mobo without the cover of said slots

It's what I understood as well.

But in that case, I'm wondering why he's not using one of the upper slots for that heatsinked drive

[Millios]

25 minutes ago, leclod said:

It's what I understood as well.

But in that case, I'm wondering why he's not using one of the upper slots for that heatsinked drive

My main concern was why they got an M.2 with a heatsink, the mobo has all the slots covered in the first place

[espr3ss0]

32 minutes ago, Millios said:

If I understand OP correctly they removed the BIG heatsink (the one that covers 3 M.2 slots) and they can't put it back on cause they have an M.2 with a built in heatsink on 1 of its covered slots and now do not like the look of the mobo without the cover of said slots

Yes, I've removed the big Heatsink due to one drive having its own Heatsink. It's a storage drive I've had for some time. I'm upgrading my system.

[TudorFinalBosz]

You could solve this by placing the case under the table and just not caring about what it looks like